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A northeastern Ohio disc jockey has issued an on-air apology and been suspended after coming
under fire for mocking a caller who has Down syndrome.

The DJ, identified only as “Mo” on the WDJQ-Q92 website, says he believed the woman was a
prank caller and he “played along” on Jan. 21, when he made fun of her speech, laughed at her and
told her, “I can laugh at you and you won’t know who to call to say you’re offended. Very good.”

“At the time of the call, I honestly believed it was a prank; however, that doesn’t excuse
what happened or what I did. I take full responsibility,” he says in the apology that aired today
and is available on the Alliance station’s website and Facebook page. “I am truly sorry, and I hope
I can earn your trust back.”

The gaffe drew wide criticism after the brother of the woman, 30-year-old Kellie Christine
Baker of Strasburg, made a wordpress.com posting about the call, including a transcript of what was
aired. The family said they’ve received messages of support from around the world.

Baker has asked for a face-to-face apology from the disc jockey, said her mother, Gigi
Standiford. In his apology, Mo says he is “fully committed to making this happen.”

He says he’s been suspended but does not say how long the suspension will last or whether he
will be paid. A station spokeswoman, Amanda Paar Conroy, would not comment on specifics of the
suspension and also declined to confirm Mo’s full name.

The station intends to work with the Tuscarawas and Stark county boards of developmental
disabilities on an ongoing awareness campaign to focus on the “abilities, strengths, and talents”
of people with disabilities, Paar Conroy said in a statement.

Plans are to launch the campaign in March, developmental disabilities awareness month.